WALKING IN UMBRIA THE GREEN HEART OF ITALY UMBRIA: THE GREEN HEART OF ITALY SUMMARY The landscape of Umbria almost defies description. Rolling hills, vineyards, fields of sunflowers and olives groves dotted with medieval hilltop towns make walking through the wild, untamed countryside of Umbria a delight. Your holiday begins in Perugia, one of Italy's best preserved hill towns, before visiting Assisi, birthplace of St Francis and site of the magnificent Basilica Di San Francesco. Walking south from Assisi your next destination is Spello, a delightful town of cobbled streets, overflowing hanging baskets and peaceful squares. Finally you reach Bevagna, an impossibly pretty village rich in Etruscan history and well known for it’s outstanding wine and olive oil. Your walking holiday in Umbria includes six days of easy to moderate walking, three of which are circular, seven nights hand-picked overnight accommodation in high quality small hotels and country inns, door to door baggage transfers, comprehensive route notes, a detailed map and pre-departure information pack as well as emergency support, should you need it. HIGHLIGHTS Tour: Umbria: The Green Heart of Italy Code: WItSUMB Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday Exploring the charming streets of Bevagna and Spello. Price: See Website Dates: March to October on any day. Marvelling at Giotto’s frescos in the Basilica Di San Francesco. Walking Days: 6 Enjoying the outstanding wine and olive oil in Montefalco. Nights: 7 Start: Perugia Rambling through the impossibly beautiful landscape of Umbria. Finish: Montefalco Distance: 3-6 Hours Daily WHY CHOOSE MACS ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS? Grade: Easy to Moderate Macs Adventure Holidays specialises in outstanding self guided walking holidays where every last detail is taken care of. We understand what makes for an unforgettable adventure; great trails, breathtaking scenery and warm, welcoming accommodation, wonderful food and wine, all backed up by outstanding customer service. IS IT FOR ME? This holiday is perfect for occasional walkers Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs who adore good food, wine and really want Adventure Holidays you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately and will ensure to get to know the wild beauty of Umbria. that you enjoy a truly unforgettable walking holiday in Italy. WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY IN UMBRIA? WHAT’S INCLUDED? Self guided walking holidays are a wonderful relaxed way to discover the landscapes, food and wine of Accommodation: Hand-picked small ho- Umbria. Free to travel at your own pace and wander off the beaten track you can really get under the skin tels, country inns and guesthouses. of the people, history, towns, food and wine of this enchanting region. We will supply you with Meals: A hearty breakfast included. comprehensive route notes, a clear map and a pre-departure information pack to guide you every step of Lunch and dinner not included but always the way. Your baggage will be collected and moved onto your next accommodation so that you are free to available at accommodation or nearby. walk each day with just a daypack. In the unlikely event you should require emergency support our local Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage representative is always available. transfer. Travel: Taxi transfers as detailed in itiner- ary. Travel to start/from end not included. WALKING IN UMBRIA THE GREEN HEART OF ITALY boasts numerous original features. Walk: 10km (approx. 4hrs, ascent 370m) DETAILED ITINERARY Overnight: Country House TreEsse DAY 2 DAY 4 WALKING IN UMBRIA Walk to Assisi Assisi to Spello Code: WItSUMB Days: 8 (6 Days Walking) Our representative will meet you and after a Leaving Assisi you soon enter the Subasio Nights: 7 thorough briefing transfer you to the start of the Regional Park, which enjoys enormous views of Average Daily Distance: 3-6 Hours trail at Valfabbrica (20 minutes). the surrounding countryside and back towards Assisi. A stretch of olive groves and developed Walking on quiet dirt tracks and footpaths you land bring to the pretty village of Spello. Much Day Route Km walk through farmland and wooded countryside, quieter than Assisi, it is a pleasure to wander the climbing steeply until you reach Pieve San cobbled streets and quiet squares decorated by 1 Arrive Perugia 0 Nicolo, a small hamlet which makes an ideal hanging baskets 2 Transfer to Valfabbrica 16 lunch stop. Walk to Assisi Walk: 12.5km (approx. 5hrs, ascent 410m) Continuing through thickly wooded hillsides, you 3 Assisi Circular Walk 10 are suddenly greeted with by the most Overnight: Hotel Il Cacciatore***, Spello 4 Walk to Spello 12.5 spectacular view of Assisi and the Basillica Di 5 Spello Circular Walk 14 San Francesco. The Cruciana family have owned and run the 6 Transfer to Collemancio 14.5 Albergo Il Cacciatore for over 50 years and take Walk: 16km, (approx. 4h30, ascent 380m) Walk to Bevagna pride in offering the warmest welcomes and 7 Walk from Montefalco 14 Overnight: Country House TreEsse, nr Assisi outstanding food and service. The hotel enjoys to Bevanga wonderful views overlooking the valley. 8 Onward Travel 0 Enjoying a peaceful location 400m outside Assisi, this traditional country house has been DAY 5 sympathetically converted to offer comfortable accommodation. The dining terrace, swimming Spello Circular Walk DAY 1 pool and most rooms enjoy wonderful views over If you can drag yourself away from the charming Arrive Perugia the surrounding countryside. Website: streets of Spello this thoroughly enjoyable circular walk visits the beautifully situated We recommend flying to Rome, Florence or Pisa DAY 3 medieval hamlet of Collepino. and then catch the train to Perugia (Train 3h00, Assisi Circular Walk 2h20 and 3h50 respectively). After checking into Walk: 14km (approx. 4-5hrs, steady ascents) your hotel you can explore Perugia. Originally Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis, is the spiritual Overnight: Hotel Il Cacciatore founded by the Etruscans, Perugia is a well heart of Umbria. Designated a World Heritage preserved town that enjoys a spectacular Site by UNESCO, it’s churches, monuments and DAY 6 situation. There are a number of excellent the very fabric of the town are much as St museums, rich architecture and a self guided Francis would have seen it in the 13th Century Collemancio to Bevagna: archaeological tour which explores the history of and the Basilica di san Francesco is quite The day begins with a short transfer to Perugia dating back to Etruscan times. spectacular. Collemancio, where you begin a spectacular walk to Bevagna. This region is famed for Overnight: Hotel Fortuna*** , Perugia If you would prefer to escape the crowds you can producing outstanding red wine and olive oil of instead enjoy a rewarding walk to Eremo delle the finest quality. This of course means that you Exclusively located in the heart of the historical Carceri, St Francis’ peaceful retreat, which will be walking through vineyards and olive centre of Perugia, Hotel Fortuna is housed in a overlooks the town and is a eight kilometre round groves and can visit the rustic cellar of Cantina building that dates from the 1300’s and still trip. Dionigi, a Sagrantino di Montefalco producer. WALKING IN UMBRIA THE GREEN HEART OF ITALY Walk: 14.5km (approx. 4h30, moderate grade) standard of the accommodation. We specifically Your information pack has a detailed equipment choose the hotels and agriturismo (country list which includes standard walking gear such as Overnight: Hotel Palazzo Brunamonti***, hotels) to ensure that you enjoy every minute of good walking boots or shoes, waterproofs, Bevanga your stay. All offer a warm Italian welcome to comfortable walking clothes, warm and walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local waterproof clothes and a day pack. The Hotel Palazzo Brunamonti is located in the food and drink. heart of this delightful town, ringed by ancient city Walking Grade Accommodation Details walls. This holiday is graded easy to moderate because We will always try and accommodate you at the although the daily walks are relatively short the DAY 7 locations detailed in the brochure, but because of terrain is hilly and summer temperatures can be Montefalco to Bevanga limited availability we may have to accommodate high. Most of the route follows dirt tracks and you at an alternative location of the same or trails although you will be following minor roads An enchanting walk in the heart of the better standard. We will confirm your occasionally. Montefalco wine area, Umbria’s best wine accommodation details on confirming your producing area. After a morning visiting all reservation. Navigation Bevanga has to offer you can take the local bus The route is not waymarked but we supply the short distance to Montefalco. On reaching Single Rooms Montefalco, you really have no choice but to detailed maps and route notes so you will have enjoy a relaxed lunch at an enoteca (restaurant This walking holiday is not available to solo no problem following the route. walkers. If you require single rooms in your party that offers wine tasting) on the main square Recommended Reading before a delightful walk back to Bevagna. we will of course try to accommodate your request, subject to availability and payment of a Tuscany & Umbria—Lonely Planet Regional Walk: 14km (approx. 4h30) single supplement. Guides Under The Tuscan Sun—Frances Mayes Overnight: Hotel Palazzo Brunamonti***, Meals Bevanga Walking and Eating in Tuscany & Umbria— The delicious Italian food and wine available James Lasdun & Pia Davis DAY 8 locally is undoubtedly a highlight of this holiday. The price of your holiday includes breakfast each Onward Travel morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so TRAVEL INFORMATION Your Umbrian journey is at an end.